Between now and 2050, the global population is projected to rise from 7.2 billion to 9.6 billion. Almost all of that population growth will occur in the developing world, where about 870 million people are already suffering from hunger and malnutrition (Van Montagu). The question of how to nourish two billion more people in a changing climate will prove one of the greatest challenges in human history. To meet it, we should embrace an agricultural approach that combines the best features of traditional farming with the latest technology. The current popular attitude against all things genetically modified is totally unfounded, and will prove to be disastrous if used to stifle research and development of new ways to produce more crops in an environmentally sustainable way. The adoption of genetic engineering as a logical next step in the advancement of agricultural technology will enormously benefit society, the economy and the environment. Opposition to Genetically Modified …show more content…
Vitamin A deficiency is highly prevalent in areas like Southeast Asia where rice is the staple food. It is also the leading cause of preventable blindness in children. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 500,000 vitamin A-deficient children in these regions become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight (Micronutrient deficiencies). A new variety of rice known as Golden Rice was developed to combat this problem. Scientists in Switzerland inserted two genes into rice that switched on production of beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A. A single bowl of the resulting rice can supply 60% of a child’s daily requirement of vitamin A (In A Grain Of Golden Rice). This is a simple solution to a tremendous problem, yet the rice faces opposition from organizations such as Greenpeace which are anti-GMO.
Sometimes farmers use too many resources inefficiently, they may use pesticides or have factories that pollute as they get the produce ready for shipping. Sustainable farming is a concept that has become known due to our need for sustainable solutions. By growing food closer to where people consume, we will decrease transportation miles and provide inner-city jobs that will help combat the problems of food cost or employment. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are important to help achieve sustainability. Amy Hammon’s essay “A Race to Save the Orange by Alteringits DNA” makes this idea clear.
Heredity & Evolution, Summer ‘15 Exam 4: Final Exam 1. What is a GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and how is it different from a GEO (Genetically Engineered Organism). How is a Genetically Engineered Organism created? A Genetically Modified Organism is an organism that is altered to produce new traits in an organism. Say you want all of the peaches you grow; you want them to look bright red similar to a Red Delicious apple.
For years, the health and safety of genetically modified foods have been debated and researched by scientists, but the question still stands: should genetically modified foods be allowed for consumption? The process of genetic modification involves inserting a gene from bacteria or a virus into an organism where it would normally not be found. The purpose is to alter the genetic code in plants and animals to make them more productive or resistant to pests or farming techniques. Genetically modified organisms, more commonly known as GMOs, have been a controversial topic of debate for a number of reasons. The ethics behind genetically modified foods come into question due to an abundance of short and long-term effects from the process, many of which are still unknown today.
What do a tomato, soybean and a french fry have in common? They are all some of the most commonly genetically modified foods sold on the market today. By using the genetic information from one organism, and inserting or modifying it into another organism, scientists can make food crops stay fresher, grow bigger, and have the crops create their own pesticides. Nevertheless, the technology to modify genes has surpassed its practicality. Genetically modified foods need to be removed from everyday agriculture because of the threat they pose to human health, the environment, and the impact on global economy.
Everyday people are eating genetically modified organisms and don’t even realize it! There are many people that have absolutely no knowledge of what GMO’s are. The United States needs to pass a federal law requiring the labeling of all genetically modified foods in the country. There are over 60 countries around the world that require the labeling of GMO’s, so why isn’t America doing the same? As consumers, we have the right to know what we’re eating and feeding our families.
Even if we produce enough food, world hunger is present, because it will remain present as long as there is poverty, not being solved by reducing food scarcity, as there was never a scarcity present. Now having addressed that the production and distribution of genetically modified foods throughout the world is only innovation ruining the future of agricultural production at the cost of others for personal gain, it is safe to say that this should not be continued. This practice will only continue however until newer generations rally against the companies producing them as a force, with the sacredness of humanity and crops and seed being their
This paper has shown how genetic modification of food crops can be helpful in the alleviation of poverty. Like any other factor, genetic modification of food has its pros and cons. It also has risks associated with it. These risks include antibiotic resistance and creating allergies to consumers. However, it also has benefits.
The role of genetic modification (GM science) has made a tremendous impact on agricultural (Adenle, Alhassan, & Solomon, 2014). Crops developed by GM science first became commercially available in the U.S. around the mid 1990s, and have quickly been adopted by farmers (Adenle et al., 2014; Cowan, 2011). According to Phillips (2008) GM science has “... increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world's growing population” ( p 1.). In addition, GM science has made improvements towards developing crops that mature earlier and tolerate drought, frost, and other
The next generation of GMOs indicates that new genetic engineering technologies are being sensationalized to address food system challenges. Dana Perls says, “Unfortunately, among other problems, most of these GMO crops led to massive increases in the use of toxic herbicides like glyphosate, a probable carcinogen” (17). Perls uses the term unfortunately to emphasis that there is a problem with most of the crops causes issues due to the toxins. The use of genetic modifications has been racing ahead without taking the time to look for negative effects. The negligence can lead to major consequences that were invisible to these amazed scientists who never took time to rule out all cons of GMOs.
According to a research study performed by S. Linnhoff et al. (2017) Millennials are becoming more educated as access to college increases. As a result of this they are slowly starting to accept that GMO technology is safe to eat, however, there are concerns with how it will impact the
For thousands of years humans have influenced the genetics of animals and plants through selective breeding and cultivation of crops. Following the introduction of genetic engineering in 1972, the technology has been utilized in multiple industries - improving the standard of living for human beings throughout the world. Genetically modified tomatoes and strawberries sit in grocery shelves with longer shelf lives. Genetically modified fish glow in a family’s fish tank and genetically engineered bacteria produce human insulin for use on diabetics. There is no doubt that genetic modification has improved the lives of millions.
The concept of genetic engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms (or GMO) started to gain momentum in the mid-1990’s. Riddled with controversy from scientists and the public alike, GMO research and progress has continued at a rapid rate through the 2000’s. Genetically Modified Organisms is a term that spans plants and animals, with the first genetically modified animal introduced to the public being “GloFish” and the first public genetically modified plant being a tomato. Since then, scientists have worked on many plants and animals, including producing glow-in-the-dark rabbits and modifying bacterium to produce better pharmaceuticals. The real controversy lies in the Genetically Modified Crops and agriculture produced and sold to the public.
In addition, eating food has long been a great way for human beings to spend time with one another, making it culturally significant as well. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are being increasingly adopted as a way to ensure food security for everyone ("Health and Globalization", 2011). However, many people claim that the potential consequences to human health and the environment are too large ("Health and Globalization", 2011). According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, by 2050 “agricultural production will have to increase by 70 percent to meet projected demand” ("The Future of Agriculture", 2016).
Those who stand against GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) use pure ignorance to oppose the newly developed technology. After all, the rich and well-fed do not understands what problems those who are experiencing malnourishment
In some African countries, rice is the primary source of food and therefore improving the quality of rice means bettering the nutritional intake of the poorer population especially children. Dr Momma and collegues at the University of Kyoto revealed that genetically modified rice contained 20% more protein than normal rice. However studies have shown that genetically modified food expose a threat to our biodiversity since the food has more resistance over the natural wild varieties and be fatal to other organism in the ecosystem. We have skipped the impact of animal health when designing genetically modified food and animals can suffer from nutrient imbalance, insulin problem, and dangerous side effects such as allergies which can even lead to death of certain species of animal like